Knife



Feb. 20, 1934. wrrTER 1,947,751

KNIFE Filed June 20, 1930 fill Patented Feb. 20, 1934 PATENT OFFICEKNIFE Lawrie L. Witter, Jamaica Plain, Mass.

Application June 20, 1930. Serial No. 462,496

11 Claims.

This invention relates to knives and more particularly to a simple andnovel blade holder and a detachable blade therefor. I am aware that manyknives of this general nature have been known heretofore wherein aholder has been constructed to receive a detachable blade, particularlysafety razor blades, and my invention is, therefore, concerned with animproved device of this nature rather than with the broad conceptionthereof.

Used safety razor blades which have been dulled to a degree renderingthem undesirable for shaving purposes still retain cutting edges whichare sufficiently keen for other purposes. General utility knives havebeen made by fitting these used blades into holders but the blades areso wide and so shaped as to make the knives abnormally cumbersome andunwieldy, particularly since most of these blades are double edged. Itis an object of my invention to provide an improved and smaller blade byparting one of these double-edged blades longitudinally and to proingrelied upon for that purpose.

Referring to the figures of the drawing,

Fig. 1 illustrates a flat blank for one form of my blade holder;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the holder formed from the blank;

Fig. 3 illustrates the holder as used in making a pocket knife;

Fig. 4 is a view like Fig. 3 but showing a portion of the holder brokenaway to expose the blade therein;

Figs. 5 and 6 are cross sectional views taken on lines 5-5 and 6-6 ofFig. 3;

Fig. '1 illustrates another form of holder;

Fig. 8 is a cross section thereof on line 8-8 o1' Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of a clip used with the holder of Fig. 7; I

Fig. 10 illustrates the clip mounted on the holder;

Fig. 1l is a View like Fig. 10 but showing one side of the holder andclip broken away to expose the blade therein;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on line 12-12 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 illustrates another form of holder;

Fig. 14 is a side elevation thereof with a blade mounted therein; and

Fig. 15 is a cross section therethrough on line 15-15 of Fig. 14.

My invention herein particularly concerns the construction of a smalland convenient knife wherein the blade element comprises a holderadapted to receive and firmly support a small razor blade of theflexible type. Knives of this 05 nature have heretofore been crude andill proportioned, since the blades used therein have been relativelywide and not adapted to the purpose. In proceeding with my invention,therefore, I first secure a blade of the proper size and proportions toserve the purpose. I have discovered that a new Gillette razor bladewhich is double-edged and centrally slotted throughout the greaterportion of its length provides two blades of these requirements whensevered at the ends. One such 76 blade 10 is illustrated in Fig. 4 ofthe drawing. This blade has a cutting edge 11 shorter than the blade,whereby two shoulders 12 are formed on the blade ends. The rear edge ofthe blade is notched in several places 13 and two tangs 14 are left onthe blade ends if the double blade is severed centrally of its slot.This blade is relatively small and provided with a very keen and usefuledge if the blade is sufficiently well supported. My inventioncontemplates a suitable holder which will receive and firmly support theblade and form in conjunction therewith utility knives for variouspurposes, including pen knives, sewing knives, fine instrument knives,steel erasers, etc.

First describing the form of my invention shown in Figs. l to 6 of thedrawing, 20 illustrates a blank or stamping from which my holder is madeand at 21 the holder is shown as formed up from the blank. Asillustrated, the blank is bent U-shaped upon itself to form two elementsor sides 23 for receiving and supporting the blade 10 therebetween. Oneend of the blank has two tabs 24 and 25 which are respectively bentaround the end of the holder and over the top thereof to re- 100 ceiveand engage one of the end shoulders 12 of the blade. The other end 26 ofthe blank may be shaped and perforated in a manner adapting it to bepivotally mounted in a pocket knife handle 27 and be engaged by the backspring 28 thereof. 105

The central portion 29 of the blank which forms the bottom of the holderis slotted at 30 and 31 to receive the tangs 14 of the blade, the lslot30 being longer than a tang 14 and the slot 31 being of a length to ntthe tang. When placing the i119 tion closely adjacent to its cuttingedge.

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blade in the holder a ring 33, which is slidably mounted on the reducedportion 34 of the holder, is in the position shown in Fig. 2. Theleft-hand end oi the blade (Fig. 4) is first inserted to engage theshoulder 12 beneath the tab 25, the tang 14 passing freely into therelatively long slot 36. The rear end of the blade is then slid intopositionwiththe rear tang 14 fitting within its slot 31. The ring 33 isthen slid to the position shown in Fig. 4, wherein it engages over therear blade shoulder 12.

As thus mounted, the blade is rmly supported against lateral warpingmovement between the side elements 23; the notched or recessed portionof its rear edge between the tangs 14 rests on the support 29 forsubstantially the length of the cutting edge; itis prevented fromlongitudinal movement by reason of the tang V14 engaging within theopening 31; and it is prevented from upward movement by means of the taband ring 33 engaging over the shoulders 12. It will be understood thatthe elements 23 may be as wide as is desirable or necessary to properlysupport the cutting edge of the blade and the edges oi these elementsmay be beveled, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The holder 21 may beconstructed to pivotally iit within the handle 27 of a pocket knife ormay be provided with any desirable form of handle.

The form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 7 to 12rwill now bedescribed. In this construction, a blank similar to the blank shown inFig. 1 is stamped out and bent upon itself to form the blade holdershown in Figs. 7 and 8. This holder is substantially U-shaped throughoutits length and an intermediate portion thereof of a length equal to thecutting edge of the blade is made wider to provide the two side elements4l for engaging and supporting the blade to a posi- 'Ihe dimensions oi'these parts may, of course, be whatever is found most suitable to thepurpose and the elements 41 may be beveled at their edges, as shown inFig. 8. A tab 43 on the edge of one of the elements 41 is bent over in amanner similar .to the tab 25 of Fig. 2, whereby the end shoulder 12 ofa blade may be inserted beneath.

The central portion 44 of the blade which forms the bottom of the holderis slotted at 45 and 46 to receive the tangs 14 of the blade. Theengagement of these tangs against the ends of the portion 44, as shownin Fig. l1, will normally be sumcient to prevent longitudinal movementof the blade but, if further support is desired, I may provide aV-shaped abutment 47 for engaging within one of the V-shaped notches 13in the rear edge of the blade. This abutment may conveniently be formedby striking in a portion of the holder at 48. The holder, as shown inFig. 7, is adapted toreceive the blade 10 and support the same quitesecurely but I prefer to provide a clip 50 for reinforcing the holderand for engaging over the shoulder 12 at the outer end of the blade.

The clip 50, as illustrated in Fig. 9, is a U- shaped member having atab 51 bent over the top thereoi' at one end. The clip is adapted to beslid lengthwise over the holder to the position shown in Figs. 10 and11, wherein the sides of the clip engage the opposite sides of theholder for the full lengthV of the blade and the tab 51 engages over theshoulder 12 at the outer end of the blade. It is believed that thefrictional engagement of the clip will normally be sufficient to secureit in position on the holder but it may be desirable to provide a latchfor this purpose. Such a latch is easily provided by striking out thesides of the holder at 53 and forming cooperating holes 54 through thesides of the clip. The engagement of these elements, as shown in Fig.12, will securely hold the clip in place.

It will be understood that the clip 50 is made of relatively stiffresilient material whereby it will firmly grip the holder and reinforceits engagement with the blade. The dimensions of the parts can, ofcourse, be varied as may be found desirable but at present it seems mostdesirable to make the clip of somewhat relatively smaller dimensions, asshown in Fig. 8, whereby to give freedom to the cutting edge of theblade. As illustrated in Fig. 11, the blade is seated firmly on the backportion 44 and prevented from longitudinal movement thereon; the tabs 43and 5l prevent movement of the blade toward the cutting edge; andlateral warping movement of the blade is prevented since the blade isfirmly gripped between the elements 41, reinforced by the clip 50. Theholder may be riveted at 55 l'to a handle 56.

Another form of my invention, illustrated in Figs. 13, 14 and 15,comprises a blade-like member or blank having projecting portions on theopposite edges thereof bent over to provide blade holding elements. Oneof these portions is bent over U-shaped to form an element 61 parallelto the blank body and adapted to ccoperate therewith to hold a bladetherebetween. The U portion is slotted at 62 to a length preferablyequal to the length of the cutting edge portion of the blade, a pair ofblade shoulder engaging portions 63 being left at the ends of bladewithin the notch or recess between the tangs Y' 14 thereof, thussupporting the blade beneath its cutting edge and preventing its endwisemovement. I may slot the bottom edge of the blank at 66 for the purposeof facilita-ting the blade removing operation. Y

A blade is inserted in the manner shown in Fig. 15, the flexible natureof the blade permitting it to bend sufficiently for this purpose. The

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cutting edge portion of the blade is pushed upwardly through the slot 62and the dimensions of the holder are such that when the shoulders 12engage the portions 63 the rear edge of the blade between the tangs 14will just clear the ledge 65. The natural resiliency of the blade causesthe rear edge to snap into position on the ledge, as shown in full linesin Figs. 14 and l5, whereupon the blade assumes its straight position inthe holder. The elements 60 and 61 hold the clatim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Paten 1s:

1. A holder for a blade having a cutting edge shorter than the blade,shoulders at the blade ends and a tang on its rear edge, comprising anelongated member having substantially parallel elements for receivingand supporting the blade therebetween, cooperating means for engagingthe blade shoulders to prevent movement of the blade in the direction ofits cutting edge, and means integrally connecting the said elements andadapted to support the blade at its rear edge, the last-named meanshaving a recess for receiving the said tang.

2. A holder for a blade having a cutting edge shorter than the blade,shoulders at the blade ends and a notch in its rear edge, comprising anelongated member bent upon itself to provide substantially parallelelements for receiving and supporting the blade therebetween,cooperating means for engaging the blade shoulders to prevent movementof the blade in the direction of its cutting edge, and means forsupporting the blade at its rear edge and including means for engagingwithin the said notch and preventing movement of the blade in eitherdirection longitudinally.

3. A holder for a blade having a cutting edge shorter than the blade andshoulders beyond the ends of said edge, comprising a flat elongatedmember bent upon itself to provide two substantially parallel elementsfor receiving and supporting the blade therebetween, a lug integral withsaid member and bent to a position adapted to engage one of the bladeshoulders to prevent movement of the blade in the direction of itscutting edge, a lug integral with one of said elements and bent aboutthe free end of the member and into holding engagement with the otherelement, an adjustable element slidably mounted on the holder andadapted to engage over the other blade shoulder, and means forsupporting the blade at its rear edge.

4. A holder for a blade having a cutting edge shorter than the blade andshoulders beyond the ends of said edge, comprising an elongated memberbent upon itself to provide two substantially parallel elements forreceiving and supporting the blade therebetween, means for engaging oneof the blade shoulders to prevent movement of the blade in the directionof its cutting edge, an elongated U-shaped reinforcing clip adapted tobe slid onto the first-named member to hold its said elements engagedagainst the blade and provided with means for then engaging over theother blade shoulder, and means for supporting the blade at its rearedge and positively preventing longitudinal movement thereof.

5. A one piece holder for a blade having a cutting edge shorter than theblade and disposed intermediate the ends thereof in a manner formingshoulders on the blade ends, comprising an elongated member bent uponitself to form two substantially parallel elements for receiving andsupporting the blade therebetween, the portion connecting the twoelementsbeing slottedto receive the blade therethrough, and means forsupporting the blade at its rear edge.

6. A one piece holder for a blade having a cutting edge shorter than theblade and disposed intermediate the ends thereof in a manner formingshoulders on the blade ends, comprising an elongated member bent uponitself to form two substantially parallel elements for receiving andsupporting the blade therebetween, the portion connecting the twoelements being slotted to receive therethrough the cutting edge portiononly of the blade, and means for supporting the blade at its rear edge.

7. A holder for a blade having a cutting edge shorter than the blade anddisposed intermediate the ends thereof in a manner forming shoulders onthe blade ends, comprising an elongated member having one longitudinaledge thereof bent over to form two substantially parallel elements forreceiving and supporting the blade therebetween, the portion connectingthe two elements being slotted to receive the blade therethrough, andthe other longitudinal edge of the member projecting laterally toprovide means beneath the slot for supporting the blade at its rearedge.

8. A holder for a blade having shoulders at its ends and a cutting edgeportion intermediate the shoulders and shorter than the blade,comprising an elongated member bent upon itself to provide twosubstantially parallel and integrally connected elements for supportingthe blade by engaging its opposite sides, the portion connecting the twoelements being slotted to receive therethrough the cutting edge portionof the blade, and cooperating means for engaging the rear edge of theblade to hold it in cutting position in the slot.

9. A holder for a blade having its front edge sharpened and a tang onits rear edge, comprising an elongated member bent upon itself toprovide two substantially parallel and integrally connected elements forsupporting the blade by engaging its opposite sides, the portionconnecting the two elements being adapted to receive and support therear edge of the blade and being recessed to receive said tang in amanner preventing longitudinal movement of the blade.

10. A one piece blade holder and a blade, comprising a plate having twosubstantially plane portions in different planes and integrallyconnected by an intermediate portion having a slot receivingtherethrough the cutting edge portion of the blade, and a relativelynarrow ledge rigidly integral with and extending laterally of the platedirectly engaging and positively supporting the rear edge of the bladeagainst rearward movement while its cutting edge extends through theslot and into cutting position, the rigidity of the ledge relative tothe plate being due solely to its integral connection with the plate andthe said two plane portions being on opposite sides of the plane of theblade.

11. A one piece holder and a blade having a cutting edge shorter thanthe blade and shoulders at the ends of the blade beyond the cuttingedge, the holder comprising a plate having a slot of a length receivingtherethrough the cutting edge portion of the blade but not theshoulders, and a relatively narrow ledge rigidly integral with andextending laterally of the plate directly engaging and positivelysupporting the rear edge of the blade against rearward movementwhiletheshoulders engage the plate and prevent forward movement of the blade,the resiliency of the blade body holding the blade in position to engageagainst said ledge.

LAWRIE L. WITI'ER.

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